Becirovic Handed Slovenia Reins

Slovenia have named Oostende boss Memi Becirovic as the new coach of the national team.

Becirovic, the father of Union Olimpija guard Sani Becirovic, has taken the reins as the replacement for Jure Zdovc and will lead the side at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

"I expect that we will continue the successes that Ales Pipan and Jure Zdovc had before me," Becirovic said.

"I understand the responsibilities, and I feel able to lead Slovenia at the World Championship in Turkey to the place that it certainly deserves."

Slovenia came within an eyelash of reaching the Final of the EuroBasket in Poland this year under Zdovc but they lost to Serbia in overtime and then slipped to a one-point defeat to Greece in the bronze-medal game.

The EuroBasket campaign was nevertheless deemed a huge success for Slovenia as fourth place was their highest-ever finish and Zdovc was trumpeted as one of the competition's best coaches.

Also the coach of Union Olimpija in Ljubljana, Zdovc decided not to continue with the national team because of the heavy workload of holding two coaching jobs.